Flow-indicator.



J. F. VAUGHAN.

I FLOW INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

1,11 1,684. Patented se t. 22,1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. VAUGHAN, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLOW-INDICATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of llilassachusetts,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flow-Indicators,of which the following is a specificatic-n, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings.

The present invention has for its object to provide means for indicatingthe rate of flow of a fluid in an openv or closed conduit, and isintended to beused to measure the rate of flow of any fluid, butparticularly water, oil, steam, gas and air. It is so constructed thatit will measure the rate of flow regardless of the pressure in theconduit.

-Theinvention comprising the subject matter of the present applicationconsists in gen eral of a hollow segmental vessel separated into twochambers by a slotted partition and a member movable relatively to theslotted partition to open the slot more or less in accordance with therate of flow, the member being moved by the diflerence in pressure onthe sides thereof caused by the flow through the-orifice.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention as embodied in avessel of segmental form which may be madeeither Wholly of metal, orpartly of metal and partly of glass. As this form of flow indicator maybe made entirely of metal it is convenient for use Where the liquid, theflow of which is to be measured is likely to stain the glass. It is alsoespecially adapted to be used with recording mechanism to make apermanent record of the rate of flow.

The invention will be fully understood from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novelfeatures will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at theclose of the specification.

In the drawings. Figure l is a section of a segmental flow indicatorembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a side elevation of the partition shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 there is indicated at 31a metal cas ing of segmental form. At 32 is shown an inlet pipe, and at33 an outlet pipe. The interior of the metal casing is separated intotwo chambers, 34 and 35, by a partition 37 Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed March 26, 1912. Serial No. 686,427.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914..

(see also Fig. 3) having therein a slot whichforms a port between onechamber 35 and the other chamber 34. At 38 is pivoted a movable member39 which extends from the pivot 38 to the partition 37. The end of themovable member 39. is as close to the partition 37 as possible, Withoutundue friction. and, as the partition 37 is formed in the arc of acircle having the pivot 38 as a cent-er, the movable member may be movedabout the center 38. At 52 is shown a wall extending from the casing ofthe device to the bottom of the movable member 39 to prevent flow t0 theback side of the movable member. The flow of fluid through the inlet 32into the chamber 35 pushes the'movable member 39 away from the inlet 32until it comesto rest in a position depondent upon the rate of flowthrough the instrument. The movable member 39 is returned to normalposition by means of a,

spring 4O.

hen the entire casing is made of metal, I provide an indicating needlewhich is constructed and operates in the following manncr: This needleis shown at 41 in Fig. 2 and is mounted on a suitable jeweled bearing at42, being counterweighted at 43. The center of the bearing is in linewith the axis of the pivot 38 about which the movable member 39 swings.The movable member 39 is provided with a small magnet a l, while theneedle 41 is provided with a piece of soft iron if). so that, when themovable member is moved by a change of flow of the fluid. the needleell, although mechanically unconnected with the movable member will.follow it.

It results from this construction that it is possible to construct thecasing of the device entirely of opaque material such as metal and yethave a visible needle which accurately indicates the changes in theposition of the movable member. This device is particularly adapted foruse in connection with gases like steam, and with liquids which tend todiscolor or break the glass. However while this is a desirable andconvenient method of causing the needle to move with the movable member,I do not limit myself to it as other constructions may be preferableundersome conditions.

lVhile I have shown the partition as slotted, it is obvious that it maybe otherwise perforated and therefore in the claims I have used the wordperforated to include any partition having a passage therethroughregardless of the shape or number of the passages.

In the foregoing specification I have refer-red to the movable member asmoved by the difference in pressure. A careful analysis of theconditions obtaining in the fluid, causes me to believe that there isalways a constant difi'erence in pressure between the two chambers ofthe instrument, and that when a change in the rate of flow of the fluidthrough the instrument occurs, the movable member moves until it haschanged the area of the opening through the partition sufiiciently torestore the constant difference in pressure between the two chambers.This constant difference in .pressure between the two chambers is'maintained regardless of the initial pressure in the fluid in theconduit and is varied onl by change in the rate of flow of the fluid trough the instrument.

What I claim is:

1. A flow indicator comprising a casing divided into two chambers by aperforated partition, a movable pivoted member located in one of saidchambers and dividing it into two spaces of variable size, and yieldingmeans acting on said movable member, said movable member eotiperatingwith said perforated partition so that it is moved by a fluid flowingthrough said indicator to a point of equlllbrium determined by thebalance of pressure on both sides of said pivoted member, a pointer, andmeans whereby movement of the pivoted member will produce acorresponding movement of the pointer.

2. A flow indicator comprising a casing divided into two chambers by aperforated partition, a movable pivoted member located in one of saidchambers and dividing it into two spaces of variable size, yieldingmeans acting on said movable member, a pointer mechanically independentof said movable member, and magnetic means carried by one of saidmembers to operate the said pointer, said movable member cooperatingwith said perforated partition so that it is moved by a fluid flowingthrough said indicator to apoint of equilibrium determined by thebalance' of pressure on both sides of said ivoted member.

3. A flow indicator comprising a casing divided into two chambers by aperforated partition, a movable pivoted member located in one of saidchambers and dividing it into two spaces of variable size, a springacting-on said movable member, said movable member coiiperatin with saidperforated partition so that it is moved by a fluid flowing through saidindicator to a point of equilibrium determined by the force of saidspring and the balance of pressure on both sides of said movable member,a ointer located outside of said chamber an mechanically independent ofsaid movable member. and magnetic means carried by one of said membersto operate the pointer.

4. A flow indicator comprising a casing divided into two chambers by aperforated partition, 'a movable pivoted member located in one of saidchambers and dividing it into two spaces of variable size, a springacting on said movable member, said mov able member cooperating withsaid perforated partition so that it is moved by a fluid flowing throughsaid indicator to a point of equilibrium determined by the force of saidspring and the balance of pressure on both sides of said movable member,a pointer located outside of said. chamber and mechanically independentof said movable member, and magnetic cotiperating members on saidvmovable member and said pointer respectively whereby movement of themovable member will produce a corresponding movement of the pointer.

5. Theflow indicator comprising a chamber of segmental form having tworadial sides and a curved side, an inlet pipe entering one radial side,an outlet pipe connected with the other radial side, an arcuatepartition concentric with the curved side and having a longitudinal slottherein, said partition being relatively shorter than the said curvedside so that there is an open space around the end of the partition atthe outlet side, a movable member pivoted at one end at the center aboutwhich said partition and curved side are formed and having its free endin contact with said partition, and a spring actin on the said movablemember against the iiirce of the fluid from the inlet side, the path ofthe fluid through the device being along one side of the movable memberthrough the slot in the partition between the curved side of'the chamberand the partition and to the outlet pipe, a pointer, and means wherebymovement of the pivoted member will produce a corresponding movement ofthe pointer.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN F. VAUGHAN. Witnesses:

GEORGE P. DIKE,

ALICE H. MORRISON.

